With so many options available, deciding how to manage and redeem gift certificates can be a bit intimidating. Spas and estheticians must consider costs and client purchasing preferences when setting up gift certificate programs. There is something for every size and shape practice. Knowing some basics is the best way to start.
Americans successfully got on the bandwagon decades ago to reduce various kinds of pollution in their environment. But one form of pollution may not be receiving the attention it deserves. The culprit is noise and managing our exposure can benefit our health.
Peace activist Jody Weiss is attempting to build a bridge between women and children in a land of plenty and those whose lives are mired in poverty and oppression. And she’s doing it one lipstick and nail polish at a time.
The founder of Peacekeeper Cause-metics, Weiss, 50, has found cosmetics to be surprisingly potent weapons in her social justice arsenal. They’re also helping her to battle demons from her own past. In short, she’s found ways to use cosmetics for higher purposes than ornamentation of the body.
We’ve all heard that the skin is the body’s largest organ—and although biggest doesn’t always mean best, in this case it does mean very important. Besides holding everything in place and providing a protective barrier against the world, our skin can also give an indication of our body’s overall well-being through its appearance. If we’re glowing and healthy on the outside, chances are the same might be true on the inside. And just as you feed your body well on the inside with healthful foods, you need to nourish your skin on the outside for a radiant glow.
As the holistic paradigm joins the mainstream, most of us are increasingly aware that everything is connected to everything else. Within this vision we acknowledge correspondence between body and mind, but most of us haven’t yet regarded our posture through a holistic mirror. The usual idea of good posture is an ideal positioning of the chest, shoulders, and neck. This idealized picture is so common that the mere mention of posture in public provokes sheepish adjustments of spines and shoulders.
Guests at spas and massage clinics have long enjoyed the benefits of treatments influenced by Eastern cultures. Most recently, the five-thousand-year-old healing system from India known as ayurveda has been causing a buzz. Ayurveda is both a traditional medical system and a philosophy that creates harmony and balance in life. While there are some spas in the United States designed as ayurvedic medical centers where ayurvedic physicians provide medical ayurveda, most American spas and massage clinics do not focus on the treatment of disease.
On the surface, it may seem that the best part of a massage is the wonderful feeling of relaxation and being touched, but the benefits are more than just skin deep. For almost two decades, researchers at the Touch Research Institute (TRI) at the University of Miami School of Medicine have documented the specific physiological and psychological changes brought about by massage therapy.
You’ve heard the expression cast your net wide. When it comes to getting motivated for a workout—whether it be after a tiring day or so early in the morning even the clock is still snoring—you might want to think about an entirely different type of net. The Internet and the new phenomenon known as podcasting puts a virtual coach in your ear at a moment’s notice.
If you’re a fan of bodywork, there’s a little secret we need to let you in on—if you haven’t yet tried one, please do, because you’ll love a facial. A hydrating, cleansing, noninvasive facial is a close relative to massage and includes many of the same elements and philosophies that make massage good for you. To the massage benefits you’re already aware of, add aspects of cleansing, exfoliating, and hydrating and you’ve got the makings of a rejuvenating, healthful skin care experience.
The multitude of soap types available to consumers today—brawny deodorant soap, delicately floral luxury soaps, handcrafted and cut soaps, liquid soaps, vegan soap, and even caffeinated soap—can transform this utilitarian cleanser from a sink-top necessity to a sensual treat, a home accessory, or a thoughtful gift. No matter the shape, scent, formula, or price, soaps clean skin by removing dirt, soil, and germs from the surface and preventing the spread of diseases. The key in this cleansing process, however, isn’t entirely in the soap’s formula but in the friction used while washing.
Please note: We have recently updated our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Learn more...